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Category Archives: Science
Blog 4 – Geological Activity
Geological activity encompasses the ongoing changes on the surface of terrestrial worlds. This activity is derived from a planet’s internal heat, which is largely attributed to three different processes: accretion, differentiation, and radioactive decay. Accretion occurred when planets were merely planetesimals and still gaining mass to become full planets. When other planetesimals collided with the […] Continue reading
Post 3
The sun produces energy via nuclear fusion—that is, it fuses two atoms into one, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the process. The most common form of fusion in the sun is when hydrogen atoms are fused into helium—giving off energy in the process due to the lost mass. This is the most efficient […] Continue reading
Mysteries of the Oort Cloud
The Oort cloud is a mysterious spherical cloud of icy objects that exists beyond our solar system. This collection of icy debris is believed to be left over from the formation of the giant worlds – Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus and Saturn. The Oort cloud starts roughly 1000-2000 AU from the sun and is thought to […] Continue reading
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Blog 3 – Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process of combining, or fusing, two or more small nuclei into a larger one, creating energy as a byproduct. Stars like the Sun constantly emit energy through nuclear fusion because their cores are filled with high-speed, hot plasma. More specifically, the Sun’s extremely hot core of 15 million K allows for […] Continue reading
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Tagged astro2110, blog3, nuclear fusion
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nuclear fusion
Have you ever wondered why the sun shines? It’s a question that has inspired centuries of astronomers to come up with a wide variety of explanations. It was once thought that the sun shone because of chemical combustion, but we now know that there is nowhere near enough oxygen for that process to have sustained […] Continue reading
Blog 2: Retrograde Motion
Due to Earth’s counterclockwise rotation, many objects in the sky like the Sun rise in the east and set in the west. However, planets such as Mars exhibit apparent retrograde motion, where they appear to reverse direction in the sky and move from west to east. This is a result of planets orbitting at different […] Continue reading
Post 2
Astronomy is a science. This means that in astronomy we make predictions, test hypotheses, and use findings to continuously build and refine our theories. Interestingly, astronomy was very likely the first science. Humans, ever since the ancient civilizations, have looked to the sky and pondered its mysteries. What use would such people have in astronomical […] Continue reading
Giordano Bruno: The father of ‘Cosmic Pluralism’
In the late 16th century, a young man by the name of Giordano Bruno set out on a journey of discovery, one that would take him to the very frontiers of scientific knowledge and beyond. Bruno was a man of incredible intelligence and curiosity, driven by a deep passion for the mysteries of the universe. […] Continue reading
High and Low Tides with a Bit of British Humor
High and low tides can pose great challenges and dangers to nature lovers, especially those who enjoy being close to the water. I was originally searching how spring/neap and high/low tides might affect erosion rates; while scouring the Internet, I found this article from the UK (Lancaster Guardian) that details how these tide patterns actually […] Continue reading
Historical Astronomers in Context
ISAAC NEWTON [1]Isaac Newton, the brilliant polymath and philosopher, was one of the most important figures in the history of astronomy. Born in 1642 in England, Newton is widely considered as the father of modern science and his contributions to the field of astronomy are simply unparalleled. In his seminal work, “Mathematical Principles of Natural […] Continue reading